Book Online @ www.globaljourneys.com

Viking River Cruises

Choose from 41 Viking river cruises and read 39 in-depth Viking reviews from past clients of Global Journeys. When you book your Viking river cruise with us you'll enjoy exclusive online savings, a dedicated travel consultant to look after your booking and the best price guaranteed!

Once again we were very pleased with the Viking cruise. Mathias the cruise director was excellent. The crew were all very friendly and helpful. The shore excursions were very well organised. They even catered for passengers who have mobility issues and Viking run a leisurely group on all of their shore excursions. For this group they try to walk at a slower pace, minimise the number of steps and slopes to make things easier. A great hotel location in Paris which was very close to the Eiffel Tower. Madeline from Global Journeys did a great job in organising our holiday for us.

If you want a very relaxing escape this would be the cruise for you. The average age would be 60+ and mostly Americans. If you want activity you are not going to get it, but meeting new people, seeing the sights, eating lovely food and drinking great French wine does! We were two days into the cruise when a fellow traveler reminded us that we have the silver wine package included in our price. This certainly made the wine experience interesting indeed. Although it would have been nice if they had reinforced this when we initially boarded the ship.

This was our sixth European River Cruise and whilst it met expectations in most areas it fell short in some areas and those were ones which we are important to us. In terms of the cabin, the catering, the friendliness of the crew, the on-board facilities and the routine on board, we found that Viking were on par with the other major operators we have cruised with.

The areas we were disappointed with were the on-board entertainment and the excursions. The on-board entertainment did not include a German folklore/music evening (the cruise was totally within Germany)until the last night of the cruise and many guests did not show up, presumably as they were preparing for departure the following day. There was also a glass blowing demonstration one evening which more of a souvenir/sales event than a cultural event.

The excursions contained too many hours of coach travel (particularly as it had extensions either end in Prague and Paris with several hours by road between ship and hotel). There was also no folklore night offered in advance by Viking in Prague and we booked our own only to find that on the day of our arrival in Prague a folklore evening was being offered by Viking. Also in Rudesheim the main attraction (for us) was the Musical Instrument Museum but not included in any tour offered by Viking, so we and several other passengers had to do our thing. On the other hand the tour to Heidelberg included a local lunch with a foreign student from the university (our student was from Sudan) which we found to be a pleasant change.

This was one of our best holidays. Viking did a fantastic job from the time we were picked up at the airport until we were transported for our flights home. The staff were professional and very friendly. The ship was great (too much food!) Tours were well organised and guides very knowledgeable. Would certainly recommend to anyone that wants to get away and relax for a week or two and we are now looking at a cruise on another river.

Not international clientele, almost all American, land excursion guides are very stupid. Ship is modern and very comfortable, extremely good. Food is excellent. River smelt awful. Housekeeping is excellent. Some staff were not kind.

About Viking

Why you should choose to travel with Viking on your next holiday

The Viking Experience

Inspiring destinations, thoughtfully designed itineraries, immersive cultural explorations, state-of-the-art ships, fine cuisine, excellent service and remarkable value. All created with personal attention to every detail. We call this the Viking Experience. It's the way your bartender has your drink prepared at just the right moment. The gentle guidance from your Tai Chi master during your lesson in China. Or the handwritten directions from your concierge to the oldest coffeehouse in Vienna. Every aspect of your time with Viking, from expertly prepared meals to carefully created enrichment programs and beautifully appointed ships, is planned to bring you closer to experiencing the most from your destination.

Viking All-Inclusive Packages

The last thing you want to do on your river cruise holiday is worry about costs. When you travel with Viking, we make sure that there are no surprises or hidden fees. The price you pay covers just about everything including port charges, Wi-Fi, meals, lectures, activities and shore excursions, as well as hotel accommodations on our cruisetour itineraries. So all you have to do is relax and enjoy a great vacation that is also a great value. Take a look at all that is included: exceptional accommodations aboard the most deluxe river cruise fleet; attentive service from our award-winning staff; enriching daily shore excursions; engaging cultural enrichment with lectures and more; all onboard meals; complimentary wine, beer and soft drinks; and much more.

The Viking River Cruise Fleet

Elegant. Stylish. Exceptionally comfortable. The world's largest fleet of river cruise ships is also the most beautiful. And since we operate all the vessels in our fleet, there is no detail that goes unnoticed. Leading the way in innovative design are the Viking Longships, now sailing on Europe's great rivers! With patented designs for both stateroom configuration and the ship's bow, these vessels have received acclaim for their cutting edge design, outstanding quality, and state-of-the-art engineering. Designed to cruise the world's great rivers, all Viking ships are built, above all, for comfort. On our newest ships you can look forward to the most spacious staterooms, with French balconies and full verandas and hotel-style beds throughout. You will be pampered with quality linens, premium bath products, complimentary bottled water and an in-room entertainment system with a choice of channels and programs.

Viking Cuisine

With Viking, you celebrate food in all its glory. On board and on shore, you discover that food is something to be sampled, savored and, above all, enjoyed. Greet the morning with a sumptuous breakfast buffet in the dining room. Or pick up a croissant and cappuccino and head off to the sun deck to watch the river come to life. Lunch presents yet more choice with a selection of inspiring dishes. When evening falls, the artistry in the kitchen transforms into a masterpiece of a five-course dinner, with a menu that incorporates traditional influences as well as contemporary cuisine.

Viking River Cruise Fleet & Deckplans

Click on the links below to view more information & the deckplan of each of Viking's river cruise ships.

Viking FAQ's

Some of the frequently asked questions Viking receive from their clients

What is the dress code onboard?

Dress is casual and comfortable, both on board and ashore. Because the weather can be unpredictable, it is best to bring layers. It is recommended that you have a sweater or light jacket for spring and summer, and a heavier jacket for chillier months. Rain can happen at any time, so a collapsible umbrella is a "must." You are likely to do a good deal of walking during shore excursions, so you will definitely want sturdy, comfortable walking shoes; but, since our ships are much smaller than ocean cruising vessels, you do not have to worry about too much walking on board.

There are no "formal nights" on board, but there is usually a Captain's Welcome Dinner and/or Farewell Dinner; on many itineraries, you will attend a concert, ballet performance or other dressier event. For these evenings, you might like to bring "dressy casual" wear.

Is there internet access on board? Are there computers, or should I bring my laptop?

For your convenience, most Viking ships have internet access. Our ships in Europe, Russia and Ukraine have free wi-fi, so you can bring your laptop and get online at any time. Alternatively, each ship has a few computers for guest use; there are desktop machines in Russia for use free of charge, and laptops in Europe that guests may use at no additional charge. Guests who bring laptops to Russia may wish to bring a LAN cable for use in their stateroom; this may work a bit better than the wireless LAN in rural areas along the river.

In China, there is an internet café with desktop stations for guest use free of charge. There is no onboard wireless network in China or Southeast Asia, so you will not be able to get internet service on your personal computer while on the ship, although you may be able to do so during hotel stays. The ships also offer shipwide wireless internet access for guests who bring their own computer. Please note that shipboard service may be unreliable during certain parts of the journey. The internet connection functions via cellular service or satellite, and there may be times when reception is not possible and/or when the connection is quite slow. For this reason, we recommend only checking and sending email. We do not recommend surfing the Web or downloading large files.

What is the electrical voltage in the stateroom?

Electricity on the ships is 220V. Our European ships have the German Schuko safety plug, which has two pins. In China the ships have a 3-pin blade safety plug; if you have an adapter with just the two slanted blades that will work fine. In Southeast Asia the ships use a two pin Europlug. Some of these plugs are grounded and some are not. For more details and pictures of the plugs, click below. Each stateroom will have one or two 115V razor plugs available, generally in the bathroom.

What forms of payment are accepted on the ship?

Items you purchase on board, together with any optional excursions you purchase, will be added to your shipboard account. You may settle your account in cash (local money, dollars or euros) or with a credit card (sorry, the ship is unable to accept travelers' checks). You can include gratuities for shipboard personnel to your shipboard account (except in Southeast Asia).

Will we be able to have laundry done on board?

Laundry service is available on board; unfortunately clothes cannot be dry cleaned.

Can you accommodate my dietary needs?

In most cases we can. Every meal has vegetarian options on the menu, and our chefs are able to prepare low-salt or gluten-free cuisine. If you require a liquid diet or strictly kosher foods, you may have your products shipped to your cruise ship and we will be more than happy to serve your special meals. Please be sure to make your requirements known when you make your reservation so we will be fully prepared when you begin your journey.
Guests requiring special diets such as vegetarian, low salt, diabetic or low cholesterol meals must alert Viking River Cruises one month prior to departure and inform the Maitre d' when on board. The chefs will make reasonable efforts to accommodate these requests.

Are the ships non-smoking?

All Viking ship interiors and staterooms are nonsmoking. Each ship has an outdoor smoking area.

Is there fitness equipment on board?

Most Viking ships do not have fitness equipment; there is a small gym aboard Viking Century Sun and a few of our European vessels have exercycles. Our guests enjoy getting their exercise during each day's shore excursions. Some ships feature walk-around promenade decks, so guests can take a stroll or “power walk.”

When will we receive our final documents?

Travel documents or itinerary details will be issued approximately 3 weeks prior to departure. If you need to receive your documents sooner, Viking charges a $25 early processing fee. If you will be away from home or need your documents sent to a different location for any reason, please be sure that you let your Global Journeys Tour Consultant know where to send them.

Arrival & Departure Information

What happens when you arrive at your destination, including information on airport transfers with
Viking

Transfers

When you purchase your flights in conjunction with Viking River Cruises, airport transfers are included in your air cost, if your arrival and departure dates coincide with the first and the last day and destination of the river cruise itinerary. If guests arrival and/or departure dates are different dates to these, then airport transfers are not included. Guests who are not arriving or departing to the destination on the first and the last date of the cruise/tour itinerary will have to make their own way to the hotel or vessel at their own expense. Passenger flight details must be given to Global Journeys 45 days prior to departure. Viking and Global Journeys will not be responsible for late arrivals or missed transfers due to delayed or cancelled flights, for missed cruise/trip days or for extra costs resulting from the foregoing.

Boarding Time

On turnaround day, the entire ship must be cleaned in preparation for your arrival. The facilities of the ship, including your cabin, will not be available before 4pm. We appreciate your understanding on this matter. Should you arrive early, you may leave your bags in the Reception area and take a walk into the city, or relax in the lounge.

Terms & Conditions

Yep, all the boring small print! We still recommend you read it though, as no one likes surprises!